Purple Linocut

I was 16 with a blank square

Lino Cut: Nicla Byrnes 16 years 

Of nothing but ebony smooth

Untouched shiny space

On a hard desk wearing brown

Stripes like a zebra stuck

In the mud.

Etched out a woman

Made of all the women

Who were weaving

The fabric of

Bright promises

For me

For now

And in yesterdays.

And I wanted her to match

Tyrian purple

That dye

Which could not

Fade easily

And yet would not

Be made of emperors

But sweet blueberry juice

And tenacious beetroot

Earthen wholeness.

I was 16

I was not a picture

Of a silly smile

Or the games

Of power and

Glory or little

Undermining

Jabs and pokes

In pranks around

Wanting to feel

Free and equal.

Even as they were there

I remained true

We remained proud.

Purple like passion

And Love.